About the Ridge
Welcome to the ridge
SEA LEVEL TO SKI LEVEL IN 18 MILES
HISTORY OF THE RIDGE
Rising a mile high, Hurricane Ridge offers a variety of winter recreation activities and features winter vistas unmatched anywhere in the Pacific Northwest. The Ridge is conveniently located 18 miles south of Port Angeles, Washington and is one of only three ski areas still operating within the National Park Service. The winter sports area is a small, family-oriented hill, providing a quality winter sports experience to residents and visitors alike without the high cost or congestion of most ski areas. The Ridge boasts some groomed areas, but for the accomplished skier or snowboarder the steeps, bowls and glades are well worth the effort it takes to get there. Come explore what winter on the Olympic Peninsula has to offer.Â
Hurricane Ridge Ski Area
Historical Perspective
Nine decades of winter sports on the Olympic Peninsula, from a Depression-era rope tow at Deer Park to the education foundation that runs the area today.
Before the Ridge — Deer Park, 1936 – 1957
Before lifts ever turned at Hurricane Ridge, there was a ski area at Deer Park on Blue Mountain.
1936 – 1957: A ski area operated at Deer Park on Blue Mountain, first in Olympic National Forest.
1938 / 1940: Olympic National Park was established in 1938, and Deer Park became part of the Park in 1940.
The road: Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps as part of the Depression-era New Deal.
Lodge & first tow: The CCC cookhouse became the Deer Park lodge. The first tow was a rope tow built by Leo White, powered by a motorcycle engine that was returned to the motorcycle in the off-season.
History at Hurricane Ridge
Private Ownership
The area’s first seasons at Hurricane Ridge, operated privately by Avon Miller and Ted Simpson.
Olympic Ski Lifts, Inc.
Shares were sold for $200 each to fund the construction of the new Poma surface lift.
Hurricane Ridge Winter Sports Club
Organized as a Washington State non-profit corporation. From 2001 to 2006 the Club had a Memorandum of Understanding with the Hurricane Ridge Public Development Authority, which took over operating the area during that interval. A City of Port Angeles ordinance issued on October 1, 2000 created the PDA with the support of Clallam County and the Port Angeles School District. The PDA dissolved as of February 22, 2007, and assets were returned to the Hurricane Ridge Winter Sports Club.
Hurricane Ridge Winter Sports Education Foundation
The HRWSEF was formed in 1994 to financially support the Club’s operation at Hurricane Ridge. In April 2023 the two entities merged, and the area now operates as the Hurricane Ridge Winter Sports Education Foundation.
Historical perspective submitted by Roger Oaks.